Bedlington Station could be key in pool league’s top three title fight

Published:11:30Monday 16 March 2015

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The Blyth Valley Pool Association, sponsored by Northumbria Flooring, is moving into the final quarter of the Superleague campaign with three teams still battling it out for the title.

Annitsford Irish A are back at the top on 196 points as Comrades B had their bye week and dropped a place to second on 188 points.

With both teams due to play each other again in the last few weeks of the season, there could be even more twists and turns in the most competitive BVPA season to date.

Three times BVPA champions Sports Club C team are still in the hunt on 183 points, while fourth placed Bedlington Station may play a pivotal role in the title race as they still have to play all of the top three in the next two months.

The Irish A returned to the top of the table with an emphatic home victory against a depleted Sun team who showed great sportsmanship in playing the match despite being a player down due to work commitments. Even with a full squad, the odds were heavily stacked against them as the Irish A took absolute control of the match from the start. With the Sun B not even getting close in the majority of frames, the Irish A raced into a 10-0 lead, Nathan Murther & Adam Raisbeck secured the Sun B’s only point in the doubles, helping their team avoid the whitewash. Man of the Match was Matt Brannan with a hat trick of points from his 3 frames. The Irish A regain 1st place with 196 points. The Sun B are in 15th place with 69 points.

Bedlington Station 10 Irish B 2

The Station proved too strong for the Irish B & took a comfortable 10-2 home victory over their opponents. The win, their 15th of the season keeps the Station in 4th place with 168 points. The Irish B drop 1 place to 10th with 125 points.

Seahorse B 8 Newsham Side Club 4

The Seahorse B’s 13th victory of the Season helps them maintain 5th place with 146 points. Ray Erridge was the Man of the match & the top Erridge brother on the night for the Seahorse B after securing a 100% record from his 3 frames. Alan Erridge may need to get some more tips from Clive Martin, if he wants Number 1 in the Erridge household. Despite the defeat, the Side Club move up 1 place to 9th with 126 points.

Defending BVPA champions, the Sports C are just hanging onto the top 2’s coat tails after an emphatic 11-1 away win at South Beach. The Home team did have a number of chances to secure frames in the 2 sets of singles, but were punished as the Sports C took a 10-0 lead. A brilliant clearance from Robert Fairbairn & Jonathon Vincent in the 1st scotch doubles saved the South Beach from the whitewash. Men of the Match Alan Parker & Paul Riley took the last frame for the Sports C. The Sports C now have 183 points in 3rd. South Beach stay in 16th place with 67 points.

Sports A 2 Sports B 10

A pool masterclass from Sports B veteran Wayne Gillespie was the highlight of this one-sided game as the result went with form in this hotly contested derby fixture. Sports B team Captain Paul Gibson was the only other player to win all 3 of his frames, but still lost out on the man of the match honours. After a well deserved victory, the Sports B are still in 7th place, but have narrowed the gap to 6th place to a single point. The Sports A hold 13th place with 94 points, but are now looking over their shoulders as the Wharton are only 2 points behind them.

Sports D 7 Wharton Arms 5

2 of the new teams in this seasons BVPA Superleague produced a titanic battle which went all the way to the wire. The match was all square at 5-5 after the 2 sets of singles. Due to commitments, the Wharton are virtually a new team & they had the first chance to pot the black in the opening scotch doubles, only for the Sports D to produce a fine 3 ball clearance under pressure to secure the frame. the Sports D then took the final frame with a terrific double on the black from Shaun Galbraith to secure a 7-5 victory. Star man for the Sports D was team Captain Phil Welch, after securing a !00% record from his 3 frames for the 2nd week in a row. The Sports D remain in 12th place with 115 points, The Wharton also maintain position in 14th place with 92 points. Irish A player Chris Gill won a big pool competition at the Dolphin

Sun A 8 Comrades A 4

In a enthralling mid table duel, the Sun A halted the Real Comrades recent winning streak. in a cracking game played in a friendly sporting manner which is the norm for the BVPA. The Sun A secured their 11th win of the season which keeps them in 6th place with 144 points. Man of the Match for the Sun A was Mark McCann smashing his way to 3 points on the night, team mates Lee Cook, Michael Grieves & Alan Halliday all secured a brace of points to help secure the win for Team Captain Davy Bradford. The Real Comrades remain in 8th place with 135 points, but have played a game more than the teams above & below them.

The Bedlington Wednesday Night Pool League has been the most competitive of all the local leagues.

Bedlington Station have opened up some breathing space at the top after a 9-0 home whitewash against Barrington and now have 152 points after 23 games.

Cambois A are nine points adrift in second on 143 points from their 23 games following a 6-3 away win at Shakespeare.

In third are Grapes A who had a bye week and remain on 140 points from 23 games.

Shambles’ 8-1 victory over Cherry Tree keeps them in fourth on 137 points and they still have a game in hand over the top three.

The Blyth & District Pool League’s Bob Brown Premier Division is topped by High Street who have 150 points following an impressive 8-1 win over Services B.

In second with 128 points are Services A on 128 points after a solid 6-3 win against Eagle.

Third and fourth are occupied by Masons A and B teams. The A team, on third on 125 points, suffered a shock but deserved 5-4 defeat against Newsham Vic B. Masons B, in fourth with 104 points, edged a tense game with Kings Arms 5-4.

The first division is much closer with three teams still contesting the title.

Isabella B are the front runners at the moment with 151 points from 21 games following an 8-1 home win over Waterloo Pub B team.

In second on 144 points and with a game in hand are Percy Arms after a 7-2 win at Prince of Wales. Up and coming youngster Vince Palmer was outstanding in winning both his games.

Also with a game in hand are North Blyth Club in third on 140 points after a 7-2 home victory over Waterloo Pub B.

New boys the Clef & Cask had a bye and remain fourth on 125 points.

At one of the top events on the pool calender, representatives from the BVPA gave a good showing against some of the top players in the country. Irish A’s Chris Gill won the prestigious singles event at the Dolphin. Gill had a great weekend by also taking the three-a-side event with team-mates Paul Riley and Nikki Murtaugh.

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